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Handicapping Last-Minute Bush Pardons

Scooter Libby? Alberto Gonzales? The entire CIA? Speculation swirls

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 19, 2009 9:39 AM CST

(Newser) – President Bush has shown no inclination to go on a Clinton-esque pardon binge, but that won't stop Josh Gerstein of Politico from speculating. Here are the potential pardon/commutation prospects, and the odds:

All CIA and military interrogators: Bush could make a big splash with a blanket pardon to anyone who may or may not have tortured suspects in the war on terror. But it’d be legally tricky and enrage many. Odds: 4 to 1

I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby: Bush already saved him from prison. Does he want to drag the Valerie Plame case back into the news? Odds: 1 to 2.
Alberto Gonzales: It’s a decent bet Bush’ll pardon his ex-minion, under multiple investigations for his activities as attorney general. Odds: 1 to 1
Randall “Duke” Cunningham: He’s got prostate cancer, and he’s old, but Bush once called his crimes “outrageous.” Odds: 50 to 1

For more, click the link below.

President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush walk across the South Lawn as they arrive at the White House yesterday. (AP Photo)

Former White House aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, leaves federal court in Washington, March 6, 2007. (AP Photo)

In this May 8, 2007, file photo, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales addresses the Detroit Economic Club in Dearborn, Mich. (AP Photo)

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Handicapping Last-Minute Bush Pardons

Scooter Libby? Alberto Gonzales? The entire CIA? Speculation swirls

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Bush's CIA Chief: We Ruled Out Iran Strike

Michael Hayden says it would have backfired then, and would now, too

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By every metric, the cuts delivered less than promised

Osama Intel Boosts Waterboarding Fans

'Enhanced' interrogation may have led to terror mastermind

Rush Limbaugh: Obama Owes Us an Osama Apology

It's Bush's policies that led us to bin Laden, says radio host

Bush: I'm Done With Politics

W. says he won't campaign, fundraise, or criticize Obama

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Handicapping Last-Minute Bush Pardons

Scooter Libby? Alberto Gonzales? The entire CIA? Speculation swirls

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Bush administration • Alberto Gonzales • presidential pardon • Lewis Scooter Libby • pardon • harsh interrogation • George W. Bush

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Bush's CIA Chief: We Ruled Out Iran Strike

Michael Hayden says it would have backfired then, and would now, too

Happy Birthday, Bush Tax Cuts: You're a Total Failure

By every metric, the cuts delivered less than promised

Osama Intel Boosts Waterboarding Fans

'Enhanced' interrogation may have led to terror mastermind

Rush Limbaugh: Obama Owes Us an Osama Apology

It's Bush's policies that led us to bin Laden, says radio host

Bush: I'm Done With Politics

W. says he won't campaign, fundraise, or criticize Obama

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?